government; he saw only his own honour, but that was enough for a gentleman. Wherefore the word of the gentleman from Essex is good with both parties in Jersey politics.
The boy disappointed his own boss, too, in that first year. George L. Record, the man behind Mayor Fagan, of Jersey City, was in Trenton with a primary election bill. I his piece of legislation was to play a decisive part in a crisis of young Colby’s career, but Colby didn’t know that, of course. He was for it, as Edward C. Stokes was, because his instincts were right. Stokes, though the Pennsylvania Railroad man at Trenton, took charge of the bill and to him, next to Record, belongs the credit for its enactment. Some of the other ring men saw the danger to the System that lurked in the measure; Lentz especially was aroused; he couldn’t make Stokes see it, but he ordered his own delegation to fight it. And to his young protege he gave his orders personally.
“Colby,” he said, “you’re going to vote against that bill.”
“No, Major,” said Colby. “It’s a good bill, and I shall vote for it.
The Major repeated his command, but the young assemblyman laid down the limitation of his subserviency.
